I agree and I think he will be a top 6er, but its ridiculous how everyone is dismissing the possibility of him turning out as a great 2nd/3rd line tweener.

Yeah I'd just say it's not the most likely of scenario's given what he's doing. That was almost the same kind of projection he got before breaking out. It's certainly possible...but those possibles lie for any top prospect.

Silfverberg's establishing himself as a really legit prospect these days. It's not even his offense that has to be his best trait....even if he's a 50-60 point player I think he may have more value defensively.

Might see him explode with scoring chances once he gets to smaller ice...small ice may force him to "just shoot" a lot more and that may bode well for him in the end. It'd be a good thing for this guy to be forced to shoot more.

He very well could be. Tim Murray himself said if Silf gets an extra step he should be a top 6er, if not he's probably a very good 3rd liner.

well he is ahead of alfredsson in the same age, and he didnt exactly turn out to be a 3rd liner. But it is hard to project prospects.

Here is the thing though, magnus paajarvi is currently playing top6 in edmonton, and while he is 1 year younger than silfverberg, i dont think he will ever be the offensive dynamo that oiler fans think.

I know that many of you would have wanted for him to not go back to Sweden for this season. Jakob gave an explanation to why he chose to do so in an interwiew recently.

"It's a big step to take," he said, "and I didn't feel mature enough to take that step. I needed this year to make sure I'm ready for it and now I'm sure. I´m ready."

To the question if he would return to Sweden next season if he got sent to the AHL he answered, "No, my goal is to play in the NHL, if Ottawa thinks I need time in the AHL to reach that goal, thats what I'll do."

Apparently his standards to be NHL ready included:
1. Be the top winger in the SEL
2. Wear the "C" for a contender
3. Wear an "A" for the national team

Is there another article where he talked about those standards he set, or other goals of his? Would be interested in checking it out.

Haha no, and I wasn't serious about those "standards".

I said it when he made the decision to not come over despite the Sens admittedly trying to convince him to....I think Silfverberg's issue was that he's very smart. Either he's got a good grip on himself or he's getting some really good guidance from somewhere.

This kid wants to play in the league, his favourite teams going into the draft were listed at Ottawa and Detroit....he's certainly enthused about playing in the NHL and playing in Ottawa. But after all this, he decided to take it slow.

He accomplished all those things and now he's ready...you don't see many kids turn down the NHL when it comes calling, unless they don't want to be there. This kid wants to be there, and he wanted to be truly ready. It's a process that many kids have been rushed through....but not one where prospects choose to be "anti-rushed".

For this reason, how he enters the league and transitions to the league will be interesting for anyone that has a take on how player development and paths to the NHL should be handled. This kids legitimately about as mature as you can be before coming to the NHL, while still being a young player that has room to grow.

Like I said before, he's either very mature, or he's at least mature enough to listen to someone giving him some really sound guidance.

I said it when he made the decision to not come over despite the Sens admittedly trying to convince him to....I think Silfverberg's issue was that he's very smart. Either he's got a good grip on himself or he's getting some really good guidance from somewhere.

This kid wants to play in the league, his favourite teams going into the draft were listed at Ottawa and Detroit....he's certainly enthused about playing in the NHL and playing in Ottawa. But after all this, he decided to take it slow.

He accomplished all those things and now he's ready...you don't see many kids turn down the NHL when it comes calling, unless they don't want to be there. This kid wants to be there, and he wanted to be truly ready. It's a process that many kids have been rushed through....but not one where prospects choose to be "anti-rushed".

For this reason, how he enters the league and transitions to the league will be interesting for anyone that has a take on how player development and paths to the NHL should be handled. This kids legitimately about as mature as you can be before coming to the NHL, while still being a young player that has room to grow.

Like I said before, he's either very mature, or he's at least mature enough to listen to someone giving him some really sound guidance.

But Silfverberg has been wearing a "C" for a top team. And he's a stud in his own end as much as offensively...it may not be as impressive from your computer screen.

But it's more impressive from your computer screen? Or are you posting from Gävle?

I don't think what HSF said was unreasonable - what Rundblad did last year was a lot more unprecedented. That doesn't mean Silfverberg hasn't been a beast this year, any more than it means he won't be more effective than Rundblad when he comes over next year.

what Rundblad did last year was more impressive than Silfverberg cause he was a defensemen

he was also flashier so making a highlight vid would have been easy and drawn more attention

Silfverberg will have a much bigger impact than Rundblad.

The way Rundblad played in the SEL was never gonna translate well to the NHL. He played hockey like he was Bobby Orr, which is impossible with the increased speed and smaller ice in the NHL. I even called this last year: http://hfboards.hockeysfuture.com/sh...5&postcount=20

Silfverberg on the other hand relies on his good work ethic and his excellent release. Both skills which are very effective and important in the NHL.

But it's more impressive from your computer screen? Or are you posting from Gävle?

I don't think what HSF said was unreasonable - what Rundblad did last year was a lot more unprecedented. That doesn't mean Silfverberg hasn't been a beast this year, any more than it means he won't be more effective than Rundblad when he comes over next year.

I'm certainly more impressed with this prospect....there's very little mention at all about what he's doing. A rare feat in it's own right.